Music Production
Studio monitor
A speaker built for flat, accurate sound so you hear a mix as it really is, not bass-boosted.
A speaker built for an accurate, uncoloured response, so you hear your mix as it actually is rather than a flattered, bass-boosted version like many consumer speakers. That honesty is the point: decisions you make on monitors are more likely to translate well to other systems. Studio monitors are usually 'active' (each has its own built-in amplifier) and are chosen by driver size and the size of room they suit, not by raw loudness.
Spec example
5-inch monitors suit small home rooms, while 7–8-inch models fit larger spaces and reach lower in the bass.
What it means when you're buying
match monitor size to your room rather than buying the biggest you can, and budget for acoustic treatment — room acoustics affect what you hear at least as much as the speakers do.